Reply #19: We are in fairly good shape, thanks to my husband's UNION,

[Blue_In_AK]

the Marine Engineers Benefit Association. After 25 years at sea, he got a fully funded pension plus some IRA money. When we married in 2003, I had a little inheritance money in an IRA, so between us we had a pretty nice nest egg. We lost quite a bit a couple years ago before we took it out of stocks, but it's hanging in there with whatever it is we've got now. Bonds or money markets or some crap. (I know NOTHING about money.)

Also we both took early social security, so while we're not rolling in money by any means, we can at least be comfortable. It also helps that I bought my owner-occupied duplex (a foreclosed HUD house) in 1990 when we had a housing crash here, and home prices were depressed. My tenant pays about 2/3 of my mortgage -- and even at that, she's getting a really good deal, about $200 a month below what most apartments are going for here. I just don't feel like gouging her.

A lot of serendipity. Fifteen years ago, I assumed I'd have to work all my whole life and ultimately depend on my kids in my old age.